Help with Force: Find Formula to Solve Problem

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In summary, to find the force exerted on the hand by the blocks, we can use Newton's third law and the formula Force = mass * acceleration. The force exerted by the blocks on the hand can be found by multiplying the acceleration of -6500 m/s^2 by the mass of 0.8 kg, resulting in -5200 Newtons. And since forces come in pairs, the opposite force exerted by the hand on the blocks would also be 5200 Newtons.
  • #1
badboyben03
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can someone give me the formula needed to do this problem?

"a karate strike hits wooden blocks, the hand undergoes an acceleration of -6500 m/s2. Medical data indicates the mass of the forearm and hand to be about 0.8 kg. What is the force exerted on the hand by the blocks?"

am i supposed to convert kg into something else?
 
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  • #2
Based on Newton's third law, forces come in pairs.

Now remember that Force = mass * accelleration

The force the blocks exert on the hand to stop it = -6500 m/s^2 * .8kg which = -5200 Newtons, as force is measured in Newtons.

Now, forces come in pairs and are equal and opposite,

thus, the force the hand exerts on the bricks is equal and opposite to the force the brick exerts on the hand. Therefore, it would be 5200 Newtons, which is the oppositite, of -5200 Newtons.

force hand exerts on bricks = 5200 Newtons
 
  • #3


The formula for force is F = ma, where F is force, m is mass, and a is acceleration. In this case, the mass is given as 0.8 kg and the acceleration is given as -6500 m/s2. So the formula would be F = (0.8 kg)(-6500 m/s2) = -5200 N. The negative sign indicates that the force is acting in the opposite direction of the acceleration. You do not need to convert the mass into anything else, as long as the units are consistent (in this case, both mass and acceleration are in SI units of kilograms and meters per second squared, respectively).
 

FAQ: Help with Force: Find Formula to Solve Problem

What is Force?

Force is a physical quantity that describes the strength or magnitude of an interaction between objects.

What is the formula for calculating force?

The formula for calculating force is F = m x a, where F is force, m is mass, and a is acceleration.

How do I find the force when given mass and acceleration?

To find force, simply plug the given values for mass and acceleration into the formula F = m x a and solve for force.

Can force be negative?

Yes, force can be negative. A negative force indicates that the force is acting in the opposite direction of the positive force.

What are some common units used to measure force?

The most commonly used units to measure force are Newtons (N) and pounds (lbs).

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